DOWNTOWN — Maybe "planning ahead" should be your New Year's resolution.
If you've made it to Jan. 31 without plans to watch the clock tick past midnight, you might be in a bit of a bind. Among the hundreds of options for ringing in the new year in Chicago this season, we found a handful downtown that still have spots and seats open for celebrants dragging their heels.
For Laughter Lovers:
You could spend New Year's Eve recounting your laughable misdeeds from 2013, or cut yourself some slack and giggle at someone else's. Tickets are still available for the 11th annual Greatest Night of Comedy at the Arie Crown Theater, featuring stand-up from Deray Davis, Gary Owen and Red Grant. Tickets range from $54 to $96. 2301 S. Lake Shore Drive.
For Families:
Booking child care is part of New Year's Eve planning, and if you haven't made plans by now, your go-to sitter probably has. You're in luck — Dine Restaurant's welcoming little ones with a prix fixe kids menu to accompany the $65 three-course grown-up version. With a "balloon drop" at the bedtime-friendly hours of 7 and 9 p.m., there's still plenty of time for some adults-only celebration when midnight rolls around. Reservations can be made by calling 312-602-2100. 733 W. Madison St.
For Health Nuts:
Ring in 2014 at Karyn's on Green and give yourself a pass on healthy dining for the rest of the year. The all-vegan restaurant still has tables available for its $45 open first seating at 4 p.m. and its 6 and 9 p.m. seatings, which require reservations and cost $55 and $75 per person, respectively. The 9 p.m. meal includes live music and a champagne toast at midnight, and all three seatings include raw and cooked options for the five-course prix fixe menu. Reservations can be made by calling 312-255-1590 and require a $20 deposit. 130 S. Green St.
For Stargazers:
If your vision for New Year's Eve involves visions of the night sky and Chicago's skyline, you're in luck — "last chance" tickets are still available for the New Year's Eve "Party Cruise" onboard the Anita Dee at Navy Pier. The $195 ticket price includes food, a premium bar package, champagne at midnight and a stellar view of the fireworks show that will ring in 2014. The ship boards at 9:30 p.m. and pushes off at 10, returning to the shore by 1:45 a.m. next year. 600 E. Grand Ave.
For Blues Brothers:
You'd be hard-pressed to find a better deal on an all-night blues show than at Buddy Guy's Legends, where the club's first-come, first-served seating policy still applies to New Year's Eve. Headliners Mike Wheeler Band take the stage at 9:30 p.m., but music starts at 6 — handy, since you'll want to grab a table or standing room early. Cover is $10 and the kitchen's open until midnight. 700 S. Wabash Ave.
For Foodies:
You've likely already jumped on the Eataly hype bandwagon, but you can still be among the first to try the New Year's Eve tasting menu in the newly-opened Baffo restaurant, which includes seven courses for $175 per person. There are two seatings — one from 5 to 8 p.m. and another from 8:30 to midnight — and reservations can be made by emailing nyebaffo@eataly.com. A credit card is required to hold a seat. 44 E. Grand Ave.
For Homebodies:
Maybe you raged your way through Christmas and need to recoup, or you've got a long list of Netflix flicks to burn through before they vanish Jan. 1. Make socializing your 2014 resolution and stay in with Magnolia Bakery's custom New year's Eve cupcakes instead. The vanilla or chocolate cakes topped with decorative discs are $3.75 apiece. 108 N. State St.
